We also need better methods to track and control dead or retired spacecraft, which can have potentially ruinous consequences if they collide with other objects or spacecraft. Although experts contend that LEO can handle much more traffic and activity from new satellites and other spacecraft, that doesn’t account for retired spacecraft or debris that isn’t controlled remotely from Earth. There are already more than 23,000 pieces of large orbital debris (objects larger than 10 cm) tracked by NASA and the US Space Surveillance Network; there are an estimated additional 500,000 pieces of debris
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